„… If it does require a proof for the world class of Swiss jazz: Here it is!“
(Manfred Papst, NZZ am Sonntag)

english

Young Swiss saxophonist Jürg Wickihalder moved 2008 with two INTAKT CD releases right into the middle of the current Jazz scene: The duo recording „A Feeling for Someone“ with pianist Chris Wiesendanger and „Furioso,“ a quartet recording of his international „Overseas Quartet“ with musicians from the U.S., Italy and Canada, led to praise in the national and international jazz criticism:

Since his return from the U.S. Wickihalder plays regularly with Irène Schweizer, they enjoy playing as a duo primarily the repertoire of Thelonious Monk.

Now Fabian Gisler, the young Zurich bassist, and Berlin drummer Michael Griener join. Common to all four: they love and internalize the tradition of jazz but at the same time feel free to jump into free excursions. The starting point of their playing are compositions by Jürg Wickihalder which lead to adventurous trips to the fantastic land of jazz and improvisation.

In October 2011 „Jump“ appeared: the first CD recording of the Quartet on INTAKT records: „This is one of those rare discs that, in this writer’s humble opinion, has everything a jazz platter ought to have—immediacy, attention paid to dynamics, swing, melodiousness, and creativity that demands attention yet isn’t a chore to appreciate. Jump! was/is one of the best jazz discs of 2011.“ (Mark Keresman, Jazz Inside Magazine, April 2012, USA)